Self-leveling furniture



No. 750,577. PATBNTED JAN. 26. 1904. G. W. & R. W. BOSTWICK, SELFLEVELING FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1903. N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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No. 750,577. PATENTED JAN. 26, 1904. G. W. & R. W. BOSTWICK.

SELF LBVELING FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED un. 1, 1903.

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No. 750,577. PATENTED JAN. 26, 1904'. G. W. D B.. W. BOSTWIGK.

SELF LEVELING FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented January 26, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

GRANT XV. BOSTVIOK AND ROBERT WT. BOSTVIOK, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SELF-LEVELING FURNITURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Iietters Patent N o. 750,577, datedJanuary 26, 1904.

Application led April l, 1903. Serial No. 150,576. (No model.)

To all when@ it may concern:

Be it known that we, GRANT W BosTwIoK and ROBERT lV. Bos'rwrck, citizensof the United States, residing at Pittsburg', in the county of Alleghenyand State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Self-Leveling Furniture, of which the following' is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings,forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a view insectional elevation of our improved self-leveling table with a portionof the connected counterweight-controlling framework. Fig. 2 is planView of one of the ball-bearings of the frame, taken on the line H H ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is an under plan view of the controlling-frame and itsconnected counterweights, showing the arrangement of a series ofgravity-controlled tables. Fig. L is a diagrammatic vertical sectionalview showing a series of tables in their normal position and indicatingin dotted lines the varying' positions of the tables and of thegravity-actuated controlling means.

Our invention relates to improvements in self-leveling furniture andother apparatus or device with particular reference to a table and aseries of seats connected therewith of the type of such furniture as isused on floating vessels or other similar structures subject tovariation from a horizontal position, as to decks or Hoor-levels.

rlhc objects in view have been to provide an integral structure with acentral supporting clement adapted to normally conform to and to bemaintained in a vertical position independent of itssupporting-foundation and to the means whereby a series or plurality ofsuch vertical supporting' devices and the superimposed table and chairsare simultaneously controlled and maintained, so that the table will beconstantly held in a horizontal position and the chairs in unvaryingrelation to the table.

Referring now to the drawings, 2 repre.-

metal, either solid or of other suitable design, in the upper portion ofwhich is provided the ball-bearing' 4, having interior sphericalsurfaces. Y

The construction of the ball-bearing terminals is preferably separableand so designed' that it will permit of the easy assemblage of the partsand with sufficient clearance-open-V ings and space for oscillatingmovement around the central supporting-stem. K

The central supporting-stem 5 is provided with a sphere or ball 6,secured to or formed integral with the stem and adapted to neatly fit inthe interior of the ball-bearing support 4, 'the stem extending upwardlyand downwardly, as clearly shown, and secured to and supporting at itsupper end the article of furniture, as a table 7, `as shown in Fig. l.

Rigidly connected with the stem 5 above the ball-bearing in any suitablemanner, asindicated at 8, is a downwardly-depending surrounding base 9,preferably flared outwardly and continued on a horizontal plane toprovide a fioor of circular plan form. The fioor 10 is preferably alsoprovided with a downwardly-depending peripheral ange 11 to provide aninner closingwall adapted to interiit with the edge of thereceiving-cavity. The flange also gives added strength and may be of anydepth desired; but it may, however, be dispensed with without affectingthe operation of the device. v Y

The space beneath the floor and through the deck is hollowed out in bowlform, as indi-v cated at 12, and, as shown in Fig. 1, the lower portionof the coniform support 3 is so shaped as to form a continuation of suchhollow interior, being secured to the under portion of the deck byfiangesfas shown, or in any suitable manner.

The downwardly and outwardly sloping portion 9 of the floor-support ispreferably flared out at a considerable angle, so as to provide anintervening space 13 between it and the exterior wall or frame 3, thusproviding sufficient space to allow of the oscillating movement of saidframe in conformity with such movement as is imparted to the deck of thevessel.

As thus constructed, it will be seen that if the stem 5 is maintained ina vertical position independent of the movement of the deck thesurrounding edges of the deck may undulate, rise, or fall at any point(either longitudinally or laterally) and that the floor-surface 10 willremain level and will always maintain a close interfitting joint withthe inner surface of the bowl-cavity 12. It will be understood that toinsure such interengagement the outer spherical surface of ange 11 andthe .inner spherical surface of the bowl have common radii centering inthe ball 6.

A particular feature of advantage of this construction is that thepassage of small articles between the iioor is prevented, as is likewisethe engagement of skirts or other similar material, while a finishedappearance is always' insured.

Rigidly mounted on the floor 10 by suitable supports are the seats 14 inproper relation to the surface of the table and to the sloping Wall 9,so that this wallwill provide suitable and convenient foot-rests, ifdesired.

The lower end of the stem 5 terminates in a ball 15, which is engaged bya surrounding ball-bearing 46 of any suitable design adapted to providefor free movement and oscillation, and with which ball-bearing areconnected the rods or other elements 17 of a lower dependingregulatingframework, by which the stem 5 is always maintained in a truevertical position.

As shown in Fig. 3, the rods 1T of the framework diverge in oppositedirections from the ball-bearings 16 both longitudinally and laterallyand are connected in one entire structure by a surrounding similar frame18, while diagonal truss-rods 19 or any other suitable bracing elementsare incorporated with the frame, so as to provide a rigid unyieldingstructure on a normally general plane.

As shown in Fig. 3, a series of twelve tables are assembled andconnected with such controlling-framework, although it will be readilyunderstood that a single table or any desired number may be similarlyarranged, according to the dimensions or design of the vessel or otherstructure, and that they may also be arranged in a continuous line, ifdesired, and we have not considered it necessary to show such variousarrangements, as they are more properly within the province of thedesigning engineer or builder.

At the corners of the controlling-frame and at intermediate positions,if desired, are located supporting stems or rods 20, provided at theirupper portions with balls 21, adapted to rest in universal or ballbearings 22 of any suitable design and preferably extending` above thedeck-surface for economy of space and located on the same level withballs 6. 1f desired, these bearings may be also provided with an annularinterior row of balls 23, as shown in Fig. 1, the lower interior portionof the bearing and of the deck being hollowed out, as indicated at 24,to permit vibration or oscillation around the stem 20. The stems 20 areprovided with supporting-balls 25, around which are the embracingball-bearings 26 of the controlling-framework either at the corners orintermediate positions and by which bearings the framework is partiallysupported. It will also be understood that a portion of its weight iscarried by the depending balls 15 of the stem 5. To the lower end of thestems 20 are attached the gravity Weights or balls Q7 of suitable weightand resultant leverage and designed to suit varying conditions for eachparticular case, but preferably of several hundredweight, so as toprovide effective inertia. As thus constructed it will be seen that theweights 27 will constantly tend to hold the stem 2O in a verticalposition by reason of the fact that all oi' the stems 2O are connectedby the rigid framework 17. It will also be seen that the force of eachweight will be exerted throughout the framework in every direction, soas to correct the tendency of any of the stems to assume other than avertical position, and it also follows that the stems 5 will beabsolutely controlled by the rigid frame and will all be maintained in avertical position. This is due not only to tile accumulated inertialforce of the connected weights, but also to the excessive leverage whichresults from their joint and simultaneous operation exerted through theframe in a lateral direction against the lower ends of stem 5.

The leverage of the frame as thus constructed is proportionally greaterthan any tendency of the stems 5 or their supported furniture to deviatefrom vertical and horizontal positions, respectively, independent ofwhatever load is carried by the tables or however distributed.

Te are aware that self-leveling devices for furniture have been patentedwherein a counterweight is attached to the vertical stem of an uppertable, but believe that we are the first to provide the mechanism shownand described whereby the corrective inertial action of a frame and aseries of surrounding connected independent weights is applied to one ora series of pendently-arranged supportingstems.

The operation is obvious from the foregoing description. The advantagesof the invention will be appreciated by all those who are skilled in theart. It is very efficient, simple, durable, and inexpensive, and iscapable of instal- IIO lation without interfering with the head roomingstem provided with a bearing ball, a socket-bearing therefor, atable-top supported by the stem, and a floor-plate secured to the stemand provided with seats, with means for holding the stem in a verticalposition, substantially as set forth.

2. In a self-leveling apparatus, a supporting-stem provided with abearing-ball, a hollow coniform support terminating in a bearing-socket,a table-top supported upon the stem, a base secured to the stein andprovided with a surrounding downwardly extending middle portion and aperipheral flat ioor portion, with seats secured to the ioor portion,and means for maintaining the stem in a vertical position, substantiallyas set forth.

3. In a self-leveling apparatus, a supporting-stem provided with abearing-ball, a hollow Coniform support terminating in a bearing-socket,a table-top supported upon the stem, a base secured to the stem andprovided with a surrounding downwardly-eXtending middle portion and aperipheral flat floor p0rtion having a downwardly-extendingspheroperipheral flange, a bowl-shaped cavity therefor, seats secured tothe floor portion, and means for maintaining the stern in a verticalposition, substantially as set forth.

4. In a self-leveling apparatus, the combination with a supporting-stemprovided with an attached table and chair support, a universalbearing-support and a downward extension; of a gravity-actuatedcontrolling-frame in engagement with the stem and suspended frombearings on the same plane as said universal bearing-support,substantially as set forth.'

5. In self-leveling apparatus, the combination with a supporting-stemprovided with an attached table and chair support, a universalbearing-support and a downward extension, of a gravity-actuatedcontrolling-frame, having a universal joint in engagement with said stemand supporting means suspended from bearings and connected with theframe on the same planes respectively, as the said bearings,substantially as set forth.

6. In a self-leveling apparatus, the combination with a supporting-stemvprovided with an attached table and chair support, a universalbearing-support and a downward eXtension, of a gravity-actuatedcontrolling-frame, having a universal joint in engagement with said stemand supporting means suspended from bearings and connected with theframe on the same planes respectively, as the said bearings, andcarrying controlling-weights, substantially as set forth.

7. In a self-leveling apparatus, the combination with a supporting-stemprovided with a table-top, a universal bearing-support and a downwardextension; of a gravity-actuated controlling-frame in engagement withthe stem and a series of independent depending weights and stemsconnected with the frame at positions lateral to the stem, substantiallyas set forth.

8. In a self-leveling apparatus, the combination with a supporting-stemprovided with a table-top, and a connected licor with seats mountedthereon, and a downward extension; of a gravity-actuatedcontrolling-frame in engagement with the stem and a series of dependingweights connected with the frame, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

GRANT W. BOSTWICK. ROBERT W. BOSIWICK.

Witnesses:

THos. B. MCLAIG, I). B. BEACH.

